Two-Dimensional Man Hardcover – September 19, 2017

(January 16, 2018) I did something this past Sunday and Monday I’ve never done before: I read an entire 315-page book: Paul Sahre’s Two-Dimensional Man. Up to now, the only book I had read faster was Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Sahre has not just elevated my reading speed and comprehension level, he has dared me to write a book.Now, while true this book features numerous images, I own many books with more images that have sat on my shelf unopened for decades. What compelled me through this book was its resonance to me, personally. Its appeal, in my opinion, is that it is not about design at all. It is about one man’s life. The book is funny, frank, and self-effacing. It reads like the author is narrating the story rather than describing it — an inaudible audible book. The author’s restraint, as in his design work, distinguishes it. As a writer (never an author), I read this constantly thinking, “I wish I could write like this.”Whether he accepts it or not, Paul Sahre is esteemed for the multiplicity of his talents. He is among the few I know in our chummy (and often incestuous) world of communication arts whose achievements have made him more approachable rather than less; whose ego has never outgrown his accomplishments. He is, in short, far more than what we have ever known, understood, or read about him—and this book proves it. As good as Sahre is at “design,” I think he is a better writer. He approaches each essay with the kind of courage that writing coaches and editors discourage. It is fortunate that his mentor from Kent State University, j.Charles Walker, did not impose on his students a Division of Writing Policy Statement, too.I have long wondered what about my life might deserve the leisure reading time of others. Sahre reminds us that any life is interesting if we live long enough and open our minds wide enough to put it into perspective. To compose the many unrelated experiences and memories of our lives into one composition—then share it —is worthy of someone’s attention, if only our mother’s. Of the house Sahre’s parents acquired and in which the author spent much of his youth, he writes, “Hundreds of identical ranch-style houses, each covered with identical metal siding, sat at the end of identical driveways with identical manicured lawns.”The repetition of the word identical (with photo to demonstrate its identical-ness) appears on page 36. By this time, we already know there is nothing ordinary about the lives inside this house: youngest brother, Kenny, becomes Angus, runs away to the circus and dies of injuries suffered in a fall inside that same house some 30 years later; eldest brother Greg is rendered deaf and developmentally impaired due to a prenatal infection that impacts the family for two generations; as a boy, Sahre’s father watched from the bleachers of Yankee Stadium as Lou Gehrig cried.He began seeing the leaves of trees in third grade the moment he puts on his first pair of eyeglasses: “I couldn’t believe how much detail there was in the world…There was complexity everywhere. Suddenly clouds had finite edges. I could read distant signs, and I could see that there were planes way, way up there. It was fall…I kept telling my mom, ‘I can see the leaves in the trees.’” A lifetime later, he reveals what it means to truly “see,” finding detail in the blurry images of the many thousand snapshots in the boxes of his memory, then composing them into a single, vital, resonate narrative that moves you.Thank you, Mr. Sahre for opening a window into your life. It is the normalcy that invites us in. But it is the gentle reminders inside that remind us of the courage required to live our truth. You have convinced me, a writer, that what may appear from the curb as banal and unremarkable, is, upon closer inspection, wonder and horror, triumph and disaster, love and loss— a life of countless intersections with lives of countless others that makes a story worth sharing. If I ever become an author, I will credit you with giving me the courage to admit I was probably gay the moment I posed for a 1973 Christmas photo wearing matching belt, hat, and boots. It had nothing to do with my mother. — Matthew Porter

Paul Sahre is one of my biggest design inspirations, so needless to say, I've really been looking forward to the release of Two-Dimensional Man. With his history of book design, it was probably inevitable that he would eventually get around to releasing something of his own and it doesn’t disappoint. The designer monograph is sort of right-of-passage for designers that have reached a certain level of acclaim, we’re all familiar with the glossy, beautifully photographed pictures of envy inducing work, the advice on how you too can reach such levels of brilliance and of course, the endorsements of equally acclaimed design contemporaries. Trust Paul to turn all of this on its head by instead picture producing a thoughtful and even may I say, humble memoir on how his life has informed his design work and how his design work has influenced his life. It's a warts and all examination of pushing the craft of design to where he personally wants it to be. We look at great design work and admire and are envious of the finished product, without realising the frustration and effort that goes into getting it there. I had the pleasure of visiting and talking to Paul a few years ago in his studio, the biggest revelation for me was when he was discussing some work he was doing for a small theatre company (it was pro-bono or for not much money) and he was agonising over the troubles he was having producing something that the client was happy with. The two things that struck me were, first, this is Paul Sahre, one of the most recognised and celebrated graphic designers around and he's worried about what some small theatre company thinks about his work, work that he is doing fore none or very little money? And second, with all the big name clients he has worked for, he is still as passionate about this little job as any other project he had worked on. This was a revelation to me at the time and is at the heart of what you will get out of this book - the passion and frustrations of working as a graphic designer, sometimes you hit it out of the park, but often times you will strike out. Your mileage may vary depending on persistence. This is no better demonstrated than the chapter on dealing with the band Steely Dan on an album cover project. All designers will be familiar with the scenario as he relates it, and if it's any consolation to Paul, I think most of us would feel like we experienced the book chapter title he uses if we had purchased the album in question. It’s not all dealing with clueless clients though. The book goes a long way in helping to explain why graphic designers do what they do, why we continue at it even though 99% of the population has very little grasp of what in fact it is that we do. I don't think many of us ever imagined ourselves, say at the age of six, imagining a future in the productive world of graphic design. We mostly fell into it because we liked to draw and continued doing it because we got praised for it, or were obsessive enough that we kept on doing it when our peers had given it up for other pre-adolescent pursuits. We leave school and have to become adults, so we look for some way to channel that six year old kid drawing x-wing fighters, while lying on their bedroom floor, and suddenly, there you are as an adult, dressed in black, drinking lattes and calling yourself a graphic designer. That said, don't be scared off from this book if you're craving pictures of the work, that's there too and then some - but if you like your design with a little bit of substance behind it, this is definitely the book you need in your life, you might even learn something (spoiler: Pauls’ first name is actually Dwayne) . Remarkably, once you’ve finished reading it, you may also find that a design book can bring a tear to the eye of the most jaded creative professional!

As somebody who both reads and occasionally writes design books, "Two-Dimensional Man" is an achievement. Instead of showing a parade of work, Sahre offers a series of illuminating anecdotes from his life that show his path into graphic design. A lot of books show you how to practice graphic design, a lot of books show you the results, but "Two Dimensional Man" makes you feel hat it's like. It's the second best thing to having Sahre tell stories over the a meal. Perfect for any designer who wants a look inside the head of one of our greats, and a great gift for the aspiring designer in your life!

Paul's book proves unequivocably that he is a genius. He is as great a writer as he is a designer, and that is saying a lot. Two-Dimensional Man is a life-affirming journey through love, heartbreak, hard work, creativity and what it really means to design a meaningful existence.

Great insight into Sahre's mind/process/life as a designer. Had a great time reading it and learning more about this legend.

I already had a crush on Paul. Now I am in love. So smart. So talented.

Was a gift for a coworker. he LOVED it.

A beautiful book on all fronts. Can not recommend it enough. Buy it.

I was not really familiar with mr. Paul Sahre and his work, after reading his “two dimensional man” memoir I kind of think of him as a distant friend. It’s not a portfolio book, what it is though is far more compelling for me. If you are a graphic designer (born before the 80s) you might enjoy it more. Here is a nostalgic glance in a mans life and his choices which make it a bit special. The writing style is somehow “film noir” and the curated photos help to describe the story better. Of course the book is quite cleverly laid out with a few graphic wits hidden between the lines. Quality edition too! All in all it’s nice storytelling from a great graphic designer. Non designers will probably like it also so it’s a definite recommendation from me.

Esteticamente lindo y por sobre todas las cosas lucia tal cual las fotos. La calidad de las hojas es delicada.

amazing book! PS is the man, it arrived a bit damaged though

excellent